Frogs for Snakes

and a really HUGE warm pile of crap. This stinker can be smelled from a country mile away. Dont go too close or might get some on you. Idiotic story and even worse acting..if thats possible. Run! and dont look back, or you may just turn into a pillar of salt.

I actually like this movie. I can see how some people might find it pretentious but those people are just not buying into the concept. It's kind of a campy send-up of Tarantino-ish films substituting a motley group of sleazy actors for just plain sleaze-balls. Instead of long monologues by inane lowlifes about pop culture (a la Pulp Fiction) you get more articulate and literary monologues culled from films, sometimes done with some style and finesse, other times done just for unintentional self-parody, by a colorful group of actors/gangsters. As with any parody, there are times when the characterizations seem over-the-top but mostly I found them clever and funny. To the film's credit, it doesn't take itself too seriously, simply drawing a parallel between the actor's process and the process of the gangster getting into character for the gruesome deeds they do. Barbara Hershey plays the lead character trying to `get out of the life' and out of acting. She is not the most charismatic actress but she does have her moments even if there are times it seems her character's disaffection for her world fails to hold our sympathies. Robbie Coltrane never quite seems convincing as the thick-accented Eastern European gang leader and aspiring impresario. However, Lisa Marie as Myrna is wonderful as the incredibly hot if not-so-talented actress and there are other fine performances from others in the film. The ending is schmaltzy but for the most part the film is quite entertaining.

I found "Frogs for Snakes" poorly done and if at all, badly researched.

Early in the film one of the characters mentions that her boyfriend was sentenced to prison for 4 years, until 1969. A bit later she talks about the 69 Corvette he bought her. A remarkable feat -- getting a 69 car in 65.

Still later, the term "dissed" is used, a term that didn't come into being until the mid 90's.

Still later, characters used cell phones, which certainly didn't exist in the mid 60's.

Just a bad film overall.

Maybe it isn't THE worst but it sure comes close! The concept? A group of wanna-be actors moonlight as collection agents and thugs for a theatre impresario cum gangster. In between shooting people, including each other, they recite scenes from movies, everything from 'The Third Man' to 'Repo Man'. Does that sound stupid? You bet!

Watching this until the end is a chore. Only masochists or people with a perverse fascination for truly awful movies will manage it. Writer/director Amos Poe probably argues that "quoting" from other (MUCH better!) movies is some kind of post-modernist statement about art and creativity. Really it's because he doesn't have enough talent to write his own original dialogue and characters.

An unspeakably AWFUL movie that everyone involved with should be embarrassed about.

Some movies are like olives or wine; you need to have developed a taste before you can fully enjoy them. The story was unexpected and definitely better the second time around since I was paying attention this time. If you like dark humor you'll love Barbara Hershey and this great cast doing a wonderful job. It is well above par for this genre.